Unidentified TranssexualLocation: Gebze, TurkeyCause of Death: shot twice in the chestDate of Death: December 19, 2008
Check the news page for sources.

_____________________________________________________

UnidentifiedLocation: Milan, ItalyCause of Death: Head injuryDate of Death: December 24, 2008
Hunters found the body of a 50 year old man dressed in woman’s clothes.
She was killed by a violent blow to the head.
Source: http://www.gay.tv

_____________________________________________________

Taysia ElzyLocation: Indianapolis, Indiana USACause of Death: Shot to death by 20 year old Christopher Conwell.Date of Death: December 26, 2008
Taysia was 34 years old.
Taysia and Michael Hunt were romantically involved and it is believed
that they were murdered because Taysia was transgender and Michael
was murdered because of his relationship with Taysia.
They were both found dead in their apartment.

_____________________________________________________

Michael HuntLocation: Indianapolis, Indiana USACause of Death: Shot to death by 20 year old Christopher Conwell.Date of Death: December 26, 2008
Michael was 22 years old.
While Michael was not transgender, it is believed that
he was murdered because he and Taysia Elzy were lovers.
They were both found dead in their apartment.

Mhtium AbululakLocation: Catelfranco Veneto (Italy), own apartmentCause of Death: Stabbed and shot in the headDate of Death: January 3rd 2009
Mhtium was 33 years old.

_____________________________________________________

Alexa Rojas CastroLocation: Monterrey, MexicoCause of Death: StabbedDate of Death: January 7, 2009
Alexa was 35 years old. Was stabbed 12 times and found half naked in the street.
Source: La I Saltillo-Noticias, 07.01.2009 & http://trans.ilga.org/ and http://www.liminalis.org

_____________________________________________________

Cynthia NicoleLocation: Comayaguela, HondurasCause of Death: Shot 3 times in the chest and once in the head by three
unknown men driving a blue car in Barrio Guaserique, Comayaguela, near Tegucigalpa.Date of Death: January 9, 2009
News sources believe that the killing of Cynthia Nicole may be related to her legitimate human rights activities, in particular her involvement in the defense of the rights of the transgender community.

_____________________________________________________

Marcela Cairo SouzaLocation: Jataí, BrazilCause of Death: ShotDate of Death: January 9, 2009
Marcela was 22 years old. Shot in the head in the street. Source: Diario da Manha, 11.01.2009, Gazeta Popula 09.01.2009 and http://www.liminalis.org

Minja KochisLocation: Belgrade, SerbiaCause of Death: Stabbed twice in the chest.Date of Death: January 19, 2009
Minja was found dead in her apartment by a friend.
Minja was 39 years old.

_____________________________________________________

“Víctor Manuel” Albor CamachoLocation: Acámbaro, MexicoCause of Death: StabbedDate of Death: January 20, 2009
Albor was 24 years old. She was found in the street, she had been tortured and beaten.
Source: Notie Se, 22.01.2009 and http://www.liminalis.org

_____________________________________________________

“Juan Carlos” Guillén BautistaLocation: Acámbaro, MexicoCause of Death: tortured and beatenDate of Death: January 20, 2009
Guillén was 17 years old. She was found in the street, she had been tortured and beaten.
Source: Notie Se, 22.01.2009 and http://www.liminalis.org

_____________________________________________________

Dayana Nicole Castillo GarcíaLocation: Tarapoto, PerúCause of Death: StabbedDate of Death: January 22, 2009
Dayana was 31 years old. She was found dead in her own beauty salon.
She was stabbed 20 times. Source: http://www.liminalis.org and Instituto Runa 23.01.2009

_____________________________________________________

UnknownLocation: Guayaquil, EcuadorCause of Death: severe head injuriesDate of Death: January 22, 2009
She was approximately 28 years old.
She died of severe head injuries.
Source: http://www.liminalis.org and El Universo, 23.01.2009

_____________________________________________________

Cita Solorzano (muxé)Location: Asunción Ixtaltepec, MexicoCause of Death: MurderedDate of Death: January 25, 2009
Cita was 40 years old. Details of her death were not reported.
Source: http://www.liminalis.org

_____________________________________________________

Camila Hernández NietoLocation: Sincelejo, ColombiaCause of Death: MurderedDate of Death: January 28, 2009
Camila was 18 years old, she had been stabbed to death and found dead in the street.
Source: liminalis.org

Puttalakshmi’s Location: Bangalore, IndiaCause of Death: Thrown from a moving vehicleDate of Death: February 18, 2009
Puttalakshmi’s was Hijra. She was 30 years old.
Puttalakshmi’s was raped and thrown out of a moving vehicle.
Source: http://www.liminalis.org and Bangalore News, 19.02.2009

_____________________________________________________

Camila PereiraLocation: Uberlândia, BrazilCause of Death: StabbedDate of Death: February 19, 2009
Camila was 20 years old.
She was stabbed and died in the hospital 2 days later.
Source: Correio de Uberlândia, 05.03.2009 and http://www.liminalis.org

_____________________________________________________

Cris Francisco das NevesLocation: Cabo de Santo Agostinho, BrazilCause of Death: Head woundsDate of Death: February 20, 2009
Cris was 31 years old.
She died in the street of a head wound.
Source: http://www.liminalis.org and Tribuna Popular, 20.02.2009

_____________________________________________________

Vicky Londoño ChavarríaLocation: Ibagué, ColumbiaCause of Death: StabbedDate of Death: February 21, 2009
Vicky’s age was not reported.
She was found dead in a client’s apartment. She had been stabbed to death.
Source: http://www.liminalis.org and El Nuevo Dia, 22.02.2009

_____________________________________________________

Pequeña PLocation: Gualeguaychú, ArgentinaCause of Death: StrangledDate of Death: February 27, 2009
Pequeña was 27 years old.
She was found strangled in her appartment.
Source: http://www.liminalis.org and La Razon, 03.04.2009

_____________________________________________________

Miriam Nunes LucasLocation: Ribeirão das Neves, BrazilCause of Death: shotDate of Death: March 1, 2009
Miriam was 41 years old. She was found dead in her apartment.
She had been shot.
Source: http://www.liminalis.org and O Tempo, 02.03.2009

_____________________________________________________

Guimarães de LimaLocation: João Pessoa, BrazilCause of Death: ShotDate of Death: March 4, 2009
Guimarães was 20 years old.
She was shot to death.
Source: http://www.liminalis.org and Portal Correio, 04.03.2009

Ebru Soykan (also referred to as Dilan Pirinc )Location: Istanbul, TurkeyCause of Death: Stabbed to death.Date of Death: March 10, 2009
Ebru had asked the Prosecutor’s Office for protection from the man who had beaten her on several occasions and threatened to kill her. Lambda Istanbul was told that a few weeks ago police detained the man but released him two hours later. The same man is under police custody as the murder suspect.
Ebru was 28 years old.

_____________________________________________________

Adriana Sánchez López (muxé)Location: Juchitan, MexicoCause of Death:Date of Death: March 12, 2009
Adriana was 31 years old.
The cause of death was not reported.
Sources: Portal Sida, 13.03.2009 & Anodis, 17.03.2009 and http://www.liminalis.org

_____________________________________________________

Virgen Castro CarrilloLocation: Sinaloa (Mexico), body was found in the river TamazulaCause of Death: Multiples bullet injuriesDate of Death: Between March 19th and 21st 2009
Virgen was 30 years old
Source: El Sol de Sinaloa 24.03.2009

_____________________________________________________

Eda YildirmLocation: Bursa, TurkeyCause of Death: DecapitatedDate of Death: March 22, 2009
Her head and sexual organs had been chopped off and tossed in a dumpster.

Gisela “Roni” GalanteLocation: Gualeguaychú, ArgentinaCause of Death: MurderedDate of Death: April 1, 2009
Gisela was 42 years old.
The details of her death was not reported
although dismemberment was indicated in the news article.
Source: http://www.liminalis.org and La Calle 19.04.2009

_____________________________________________________

UnknownLocation: Niteroi, BrazilCause of Death: ShotDate of Death: April 11, 2009
She was 40 years old.
Sources: http://www.liminalis.org and Journal do Brazil, 14.04.2009

_____________________________________________________

Melek KLocation: Ankara, TurkeyCause of Death: Was found murdered in her home.Date of Death: April 11, 2009
Melek was a transgender activist.
Melek was 25 years old.

Juliana MartinsLocation: Curitiba, BrazilCause of Death: ShotDate of Death: April 27, 2009
Juliana was 28 years old.
She was shot in the stomach at close range.
Sources: http://www.liminalis.org and Athos GLS, 07.05.2009

Fernanda BotelhoLocation: Curitiba, BrazilCause of Death: MurderedDate of Death: May 4, 2009
Neither Frenanda’s age nor details of her death were reported.
Sources: http://www.liminalis.org and Athos GLS, 07.05.2009

_____________________________________________________

JeniferLocation: Curitiba, BrazilCause of Death: ShotDate of Death: May 6, 2009
Jenifer’s age was not reported.
Sources: http://www.liminalis.org and Athos GLS, 07.05.2009

_____________________________________________________

Diksy JonesLocation: Wellington, New ZealandCause of Death: Severe injuriesDate of Death: May 6, 2009
Diksy Jones “Richard Milton Jones” was found dead in her apartment,
with “severe injuries” according to police.
Diksy was 64 years old.

_____________________________________________________

Tigresa de Souza ReisLocation: Feira de Santana, BrazilCause of Death: ShotDate of Death: May 7, 2009
Tigresa’s age was not reported.
She was shot in the back of the head.
Sources: http://www.liminalis.org and Correio 24horas, 08.05.2009

UnknownLocation: Belo Horizonte, BrazilCause of Death: ShotDate of Death: May 24, 2009
She was shot 13 times.
Police are investigating it as a hate crime.
Sources: http://www.liminalis.org and O Tempo, 24.05.2009

_____________________________________________________

Foxy IvyLocation: Detroit, MichiganCause of Death: ShotDate of Death: May 25, 2009
Foxy was an African American woman under the age of 35, she was found in Highland Parkand had been fatally shot in the back of the head.

Kelly (Frederick) WatsonLocation: Albuquerque, New MexicoCause of Death: MurderedDate of Death: June 9, 2009
Kelly was 32 years old. If you have any information on this murder, please call the
Albuquerque Police Department at (505) 843-STOP.
Website with more info: Obituary in the Gallup Independenthttp://www.gallupindependent.com/2009/06June/061809deaths.html

RafaeleLocation: Curitiba, BrazilCause of Death: ShotDate of Death: June 14, 2009
No age was reported.
Sources: http://www.liminalis.org and Noticias Puebla 15.06.2009

_____________________________________________________

Anita Fajardo RíosLocation: El Carmen, MexicoCause of Death: StabbedDate of Death: June 16, 2009
Anita’s age was not reported.
she had been beaten and stabbed.
Sources: http://www.liminalis.org and La Quinta Columna & Noticias Puebla 18.06.2009

_____________________________________________________

Not ReportedLocation: Belem, BrazilCause of Death: ShotDate of Death: June 22, 2009
She was a 16 year old sex worker who was shot to death by her client.
Sources: http://www.liminalis.org and Diario do Para 26.06.2009

“Enrique Jhosvani” GuevaraLocation: Lima (Peru)Cause of Death: Not ReportedDate of Death: June 24, 2009
Enrique was 42 years old
Source: La República 26.06.2009

_____________________________________________________

KamillaLocation: Volgograd, RussiaCause of Death: shot to deathDate of Death: June, 2009
Was shot to death by her boyfriend Vladmir after he discovered
that she had been born male. Kamilla was 30 years old.

(Was Listed as Unnamed Transgender Activist)
Vicki Hernández Castillo (Jonny Emelson Hernández)Location: San Pedro Sula (Honduras)Cause of Death:Shot to deathDate of Death: June 29, 2009
Vicki’s murder occurred on the night of June 29,
2009, after she went to work during the military-imposed two-night
curfew. She was found dead in the morning of June 30, 2009
Source: http://www.iglhrc.org/cgi-bin/iowa/article/pressroom/pressrelease/940.html
and Página 12, 31.07.2009 & AFP, 23.07.2009

Terri BenallyLocation: Albuquerque, New MexicoCause of Death: Beaten to deathDate of Death: July 7, 2009
Terri was 42 years old.

_____________________________________________________

Cesar TorresLocation: El Paso, TexasCause of Death: Blunt Force TraumaDate of Death: July 9, 2009
An autopsy report says Cesar died from blunt force trauma. He had cuts around his eyes, broken ribs, a broken nose, a ruptured liver, wrenched neck and several stab wounds. Cesar was 39 years old.

Name not reportedLocation: Penang, MalaysiaCause of Death: Head traumaDate of Death: July 23, 2009
She was 27 years old and found lying in a pool of blood by a security guard. She was taken to a hospital where she died 12 hours later as a result of head injury.

Beyonce (Eric) LeeLocation: New Orleans, LouisianaCause of Death: Stabbed to deathDate of Death: July 26, 2009
Eric Lee was a drag performer who dressed and performed as
the famous singer Beyonce. Eric was found in his appartment
where he had been stabbed to death.
Eric was 21 years old.

No Name Reported
Location of Death: Algiers (Algeria), hospitalCause of Death: Beaten to deathDate of Death: In the first two weeks of August 2009
Source:www.bekhsoos.com/web/2009/09/algerian-transsexual-woman-murdered/ 07.09.2009

Tyli’a Mack also known as NaNa BooLocation: Washington, DCCause of Death: Stabbed to deathDate of Death: August 26, 2009
Tyli’a was stabbed to death on the street in broad daylight.
Tyli’a was 21 years old.

_____________________________________________________

Paulina IbarraLocation: East Hollywood, CaliforniaCause of Death: Stabbed to deathDate of Death: August 28, 2009
Paulina was found dead inside her apartment, she had
been stabbed to death. Paulina was 24 years old.

Vimlesh (Hijra)Location: New Delhi (India), in her houseCause of Death: slashed throatDate of Death: October 20, 2009
Vimlesh was 47 years old
Sources: Times of India, 21.10.2009, PTI News 04.11.2009

_____________________________________________________

Meena (Hijra)Location: New Delhi (India), in Vimlesh’s houseCause of Death: Slashed throatDate of Death: October 20, 2009
Meena was 31 years old
Sources: Times of India, 21.10.2009, PTI News 04.11.2009

Destiny LaurenLocation: Kentish Town, LondonCause of Death: unreleased by policeDate of Death: November 5, 2009
Destiny was found by police at her flat in Leighton Crescent at 00.55am on Thursday morning.
She was taken to the Royal Free Hospital but was pronounced dead at 1.35am.
Details have not been released although an arrest has been made.
Destiny was 29 years old.
Source: http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/11/09/trans-woman-murdered-in-kentish-town-london/

Front Line is gravely concerned following reports received regarding the killing of transgender human rights defender, Cynthia Nicole, on 9 January 2009. Cynthia Nicole was a leader in Colectivo Violeta, an organisation which has worked in the defence of the rights of transgender people since 1995. Her work included providing information on HIV/AIDS and human rights, as well as representing her community at national conferences and in the media. She also worked as a translator with representatives of Front Line during a recent visit to Honduras to meet with human rights defenders at risk.
Further Information

Early in the morning on 9 January 2009, Cynthia Nicole was shot three times in the chest and once in the head by three unknown men driving a blue car in Barrio Guaserique, Comayaguela, near Tegucigalpa. Police investigators have reportedly found the abandoned car and the bullet casings from the shooting, but to date none of the perpetrators have been identified.

Front Line believes that the killing of Cynthia Nicole may be related to her legitimate human rights activities, in particular her involvement in the defence of the rights of the transgender community. Given that there have reportedly been several violent attacks against transgender people in the country in recent months, Front Line is concerned that this may form part of an ongoing trend of harassment against the transgender community in Honduras.
Action Finished:

This Urgent Appeal has now ended. No further action is requested at this point. Thank you for taking action on this case.

Front Line issues Urgent Appeals on behalf of human rights defenders at risk on a daily basis. These Appeals normally remain active on our web site for a period of up to six weeks, depending on the situation. After this time they will be archived. Front Line maintains a watching brief on all these cases but no further action is requested after the six weeks, unless there is a significant development in the case.

Ebru Soykan, 28, transwoman, 10. March 2009, Istanbul, stabbed to death in her home.

“Members of Lambda Istanbul, which works for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and transsexual (LGBTT) people, told Human Rights Watch that in the last month Ebru had asked the Prosecutor’s Office for protection from the man who had beaten her on several occasions and threatened to kill her. Lambda Istanbul was told that a few weeks ago police detained the man but released him two hours later. The same man is under police custody as the murder suspect.” -Press Release from Human Rights Watch, March 13, 2009

By Will Grant BBC News, Caracas In a city where about 40 murders take place every weekend, it may not come as a big surprise that four prostitutes have been killed on the same stretch of road in Caracas in recent months.

But when you find out that all four were transsexuals or transgender, it changes the picture somewhat.

The bodies were reportedly found with money, mobile phones and handbags still on them, suggesting the attacks were not simple robberies.

“We have seen a definite increase in violence against transsexuals this year,” says Estrella Cerezo, a founding member of the Venezuelan transgender rights group Transvenus.

“We’ve registered over 20 murders of transsexual people in Venezuela so far this year, which is more than twice the number seen in the second half of last year,” says Ms Cerezo, who is a transsexual hairdresser in one of the rougher neighbourhoods of Caracas, Flores de Catia.

But she says the real number of attacks is difficult to keep track of.

“Many attacks against transsexual or transgender people – especially against transsexual prostitutes – go unreported. The police aren’t interested in investigating them properly. They just define them as crimes of passion, file them away, and leave it at that.”

Law professor Tamara Adrian – one of the leading transgender figures in Venezuela – agrees with this assessment.

“I think the violence against the transsexual community is hidden within the high, and rising, levels of violence we are currently experiencing in Venezuela.”

“Hate crimes become absorbed into the more generic violence in this country and often are not identified as anti-gay hate crimes as such,” Dr Adrian says.

Limited options

It is not just violence either. Transsexuals are regularly humiliated and insulted in the streets.

Groups of youths have even filmed themselves abusing transsexual prostitutes on Caracas’ notorious Avenue Libertador, the main area for prostitution in the capital, and uploaded the videos to YouTube.

For Ms Cerezo the problems stem from the fact that transsexuals in Venezuela, as in other parts of Latin America, are forced to the margins of society because of deep-seated prejudice.

“In general, transsexuals only have two areas in which they can work – either as beauticians or as prostitutes.”

She says her own situation is a case in point. “I am a trained nurse, but as soon as I graduated I came out as the woman I really am. Once I did that, all the doors began to close. I couldn’t find any work in the public hospitals or healthcare centres – not even work experience.”

The United Nations office on HIV/Aids protection agrees that the problem in Latin America is rife.

“Sexual violence is a reality for many sexual minorities and often sex work is the only viable option to make a living for transgender and transsexual people,” said UNAids’ Head of Civil Society Partnerships, Andy Seale, at a meeting in Brazil in 2006.

Silence

However, Dr Adrian says that in Venezuela the failure to act on the issues facing the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) community is at odds with the socialist government’s rhetoric on social inclusion.

“The important thing to understand about the LGBT community in Venezuela is that they are given no legal protection whatsoever,” says Dr Adrian.

“There are huge prejudices still in place among the legal actors themselves – inside the state prosecutor’s office, the police, the judiciary and the national assembly.

“There is no recognition of the trans community at the official level,” Dr Adrian continues.

“We have done studies which show that most transsexual and transgender people in Venezuela have barely obtained third or fourth-grade primary school education. Many not even that.

“So if the system doesn’t recognise you, nor provide for your protection in any way, then obviously it is going to be very difficult to get any kind of decent job – pushing them further into the shadows and the sex industry,” explains Dr Adrian.

Argentina, Mexico, Brazil and Colombia are among the Latin American countries where significant inroads have been made for the LGBT community.

These include in some cases the recognition of same sex civil unions, legal cohabitation, and the right as a transsexual to have your birth certificate changed.

Venezuela, says Dr Adrian, is well behind the rest of the region.

“In 2004, I went to the Supreme Court of Justice to take out a direct injunction against the constitution in Venezuela, requesting that all my documents be legally changed to reflect my gender identity.

“Since then, I have been met with silence. In five years, they haven’t even ruled on the admissibility of my petition.”

Official response

The government, however, argues that steps are being taken.

President Hugo Chavez has referred to gay rights several times on his TV programme Alo Presidente, and a change to family law has been introduced in the national assembly which would include the right to marriage for gay couples.

The socialist MP who presented the project, Romelia Matute, says the trans community has suffered in the Venezuela, particularly because of the contry’s religious tradition.

“They were considered ‘the devil’, and in many circles, they still are,” she said.

“Our response as the government has been this legal project which, among other things, would grant access to sex change operations on the public healthcare system.”

What about the attacks suffered by the prostitutes in areas like Avenue Libertador – sometimes, they say, at the hands of the police?

“That is going on, yes. But in a sense, the transsexual community must do more for themselves too,” Ms Matute says.

“There has been no visible group or march to support this proposed change in the law. In fact, I would go so far as to say that if this is rejected by the national assembly, it would be the fault of the LGBT community for being too timid, for not organising themselves properly,” she says.

For Dr Adrian, a transsexual university lecturer who has overcome significant obstacles to be accepted in her public life, nothing could be further from the truth.

“That change in the law has not even been discussed by the assembly yet and it seems the head of the family commission is staunchly opposed to anything which would grant equal rights to transgender people,” she says.

As for the president, she says, “we have been trying for years to get close to Chavez on this matter. We are pretty much sure that unless he addresses this personally, it will not happen.”

At her small, stuffy hairdressing salon in the basement of a building in Flores de Catia, Estrella Cerezo is realistic about what the future holds.

“I believe the government is trying to help us,” she says.

“But if things are getting better in terms of our demands being taken seriously by the government, they are getting worse in terms of violent attacks and our personal safety. Security here is a big problem, and we are easy targets,” Ms Cerezo says.

———————

[7/11/09]

FIRST ON 4 UPDATE: Arrest made in transvestite murder

El Paso Police arrested Michael Manuel Herrera last night in
connection with the murder of Cesar Torres. While police walked him
to the jail last night – Herrera told us he was “Torres’ boyfriend for
six months.”

As we reported first Thursday – people who live in the neighborhood on
West Missouri Street tell us Torres was a transvestite and would often
go out in women’s clothes.

Investigators say the two were at Torres’ apartment Monday night when
they started fighting. Herrera started beating Torres and eventually
stabbed him on his right side. His body was found three days later by
a neighbor and friend.

An autopsy report says Torres died from blunt force trauma. He had
cuts around his eyes, broken ribs, a broken nose, a ruptured liver,
wrenched neck and several stab wounds.

Investigators say they found Herrera’s fingerprint at the scene.
Police found him at the Opportunity Center, a homeless shelter on
Myrtle Street.

We are continuing to investigate this story – and will have more today
on KDBC 4 News @ 530p & 1000p.

FROM A NEWS RELEASE SENT TO THE KDBC 4 NEWSROOM:

EL PASO, TEXAS -A man’s death is ruled a homicide. The Crimes Against
Persons Unit (CAP) continue their investigation into 39-year old Cesar
Torres’ death. An autopsy was performed today and Torres’s death was
ruled a homicide. For the integrity of the investigation the cause of
death is not being released at this time. Anyone with information is
asked to call police at 832-4400 or Crime Stoppers at 566-TIPS (8477).

HISTORY: – Officers from the El Paso Police Department’s Central
Regional Command Center responded to the unattended death of a 39
year-old male at the 500 Block of W. Missouri. The cause of death
has not been determined at this time, therefore, detectives from the
Crimes Against Persons Unit (CAP) are continuing with the
investigation. If anyone has any information that can assist
investigators they are encouraged to call Police Communications at
(915) 832-4400.

Did Hate Motivate New Orleans Murder?
By Julie Bolcer
A murder in New Orleans on Sunday may have been motivated by the
victim’s style of dress or gender identity, reports the New Orleans
Times-Picayune.Eric Lee was stabbed multiple times at an apartment
complex in the Algiers neighborhood, and died on the scene.

A New Orleans police department spokesperson said that Lee argued with
several women at the Jackson’s Landing Apartments complex before the
stabbing around 4 p.m. Emergency workers found Lee’s body inside a
first-floor apartment.

Residents told the Times-Picayune that Lee, 21, lived in the apartment
complex for several months. They said Lee dressed as a woman and went
by the name, Beyonce. One resident said that Lee often could be heard
arguing with other residents.

Two men accused of murdering an Upper Hutt transvestite known as Diksy can be named after a judge rejected a plea for name suppression.

Richard Milton Jones, 64, was found by police at his Totara Park Rd unit last Wednesday afternoon with severe injuries and could not be resuscitated by emergency services.

Phillip Christopher Sanders, 41, and David Shaun Galloway, 18, have been charged with murder.

Galloway was refused bail by Judge Pat Grace yesterday after he made an application in Upper Hutt District Court. A further application for name suppression was also refused. Both men are due back in court on May 12.

Verity Jones, 23, who attended her father’s funeral in Wellington this week, said: “He was a gentle person who lived a really peaceful life. That’s why the way he died . . . it’s devastating.”

He was a cabinet maker and she recalled his “unique” creations, his love of old cars, cricket and cats.

But he was better known around Upper Hutt as Diksy. A close friend, Myrie Beck, called him a “beautiful person”, with a great sense of humour. “Everybody who knew Diksy loved her. There was name-calling and, whenever she got on a bus, people would look and look again. But she wasn’t bothered by that.”

Murder victim Durham graduate Andrea Waddell

A MAN has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a Durham University graduate who underwent gender surgery and worked as a prostitute.

Detectives launched a murder inquiry after Andrea Waddell’s body was found in a burned-out flat in Brighton, on Thursday night. She had been strangled.

Ms Waddell was born a man, but began hormone treatment while studying philosophy at Durham – ending her three-year course as Andrea Waddell.

She underwent gender surgery while studying for a master’s degree in social and political thought at the University of Sussex.

Yesterday, a Sussex Police spokeswoman said a 42-year-old man from Brighton, arrested on Saturday night in connection with the 29-year-old’s murder was in custody.

In a statement released by Sussex Police, Ms Waddell’s family said she was born Alexander Waddell but developed ambivalent gender feelings as a teenager.

During her gender change, Ms Waddell nearly died after developing acute ulcerative colitis, but continued to live “incapacitated by pain but fiercely independent”, the statement from her parents Sonia and Robin and brother Nick said.

It ended: “We know she is now finally free of this pain and at peace.”

At a press conference in Brighton police station, Detective Chief Inspector Adam Hibbert appealed for members of Brighton’s sex industry to come forward if they had information about Ms Waddell’s death.

He said she was “discreet” about her work as a prostitute but sometimes took clients home to her one-bedroom flat, where she was thought to live alone.

Ms Waddell moved to Brighton about five years ago. She was last seen alive on Thursday.

(December 17, 2009) On December 13, Walter Tróchez, a 27 year-old gay
rights activist and member of the National Front of Resistance Against
the Coup d’Etat, was shot in a drive-by attack by unknown assailants.
He died several hours later in a hospital in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
According to Honduran NGOs Red Lesbica Cattrachas and Feministas en
Resistencia, his is the sixteenth known murder in the Honduran
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community since the
military coup on June 28, 2009. Since the ouster of the country’s
democratically elected government, a climate of impunity has enabled
systematic acts of transphobic and homophobic violence. Nobody has
been brought to justice for any of these crimes, many of which were
committed publicly. More deaths of LGBT people have likely gone
unreported.

The human rights of people in all sectors of Honduran society are
being systematically violated as the direct result of the military
coup. However, the accelerated rate at which LGBT people have been
killed in the last five months suggests a targeted pattern of
violence.

The work of Walter Tróchez, the most recent victim of this violence,
included dissemination of information about human rights in Honduras.
As an LGBT activist, Tróchez also reported on the human rights of LGBT
people during the coup, and advocated for HIV/AIDS prevention and
combating religious fundamentalism.

Like others in Honduras, Tróchez faced significant abuse for his
political and human rights activism and his sexual orientation, which
escalated after the coup. On July 20, 2009, he was detained by
authorities for participating in a peaceful, sit-down protest across
from the Congress of the Republic. During his detention, he was
brutally beaten and denigrated because of his sexual orientation.
Then, on December 4, Tróchez was kidnapped and beaten by four masked
men who came in a gray pickup truck without license plates, suspected
by activists to come from the police investigative unit (DNIC). He
managed to escape and file a complaint to national and international
authorities just days before he was murdered.

Three days before the murder, on December 10, 2009-Human Rights
Day-Honduran LGBT human rights defender Indyra Mendoza spoke to State
and civil society representatives at the United Nations in New York.
Mendoza warned that the situation of LGBT people in Honduras is dire,
calling for “states free of discrimination for sexual orientation and
gender identity [and] free from impunity” and challenging religious
organizations’ roles in supporting the coup.

The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC)
stands in solidarity and sorrow with the family and friends of Walter
Tróchez, as well as those of everyone killed in these bloody months.
The international community must support the courageous activists
continuing to defend human rights and LGBT people in Honduras.

All people have the rights to life, security, and freedom from
discrimination regardless of their sexual orientation, gender
identity, or political beliefs. IGLHRC condemns the systemic
persecution and murder of LGBT people and human rights defenders in
Honduras and calls for an end to the impunity that allows this
violence and oppression to thrive.